Best Glacier viewing (by boat) from Seward or Whittier
Apr 17th, 2014, 11:54 AM
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Best Glacier viewing (by boat) from Seward or Whittier
Hi,
anybody out there who knows both tours?
We are not sure, if a tour from Seward is nicer/better/more intense/with more glaciers to see than tours wich start from Whittier.
The Seward-tours travel to the Kenai National Park of course,
Whittier tours travel through Prince William Sound
Is there any difference in the landscape?
We would love so much to see glaciers as close as possible and not from afar.
Thank you so much for your opinions!
anybody out there who knows both tours?
We are not sure, if a tour from Seward is nicer/better/more intense/with more glaciers to see than tours wich start from Whittier.
The Seward-tours travel to the Kenai National Park of course,
Whittier tours travel through Prince William Sound
Is there any difference in the landscape?
We would love so much to see glaciers as close as possible and not from afar.
Thank you so much for your opinions!
Apr 17th, 2014, 12:30 PM
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I'm also interested in answers to your question.
Over 20 years ago we took a tour out of Seward and got up close to Holgate glacier. A bad storm was coming in we had to head back early and missed out going to Chiswell Island to see the sea lions. We hit really rough waters in the Gulf of Alaska and many people were getting sick.
This summer we are booked on the 26 Glacier tour out of Whittier and they guarantee you won't get seasick because you are in the protected waters of Prince William Sound.
Utahtea
Over 20 years ago we took a tour out of Seward and got up close to Holgate glacier. A bad storm was coming in we had to head back early and missed out going to Chiswell Island to see the sea lions. We hit really rough waters in the Gulf of Alaska and many people were getting sick.
This summer we are booked on the 26 Glacier tour out of Whittier and they guarantee you won't get seasick because you are in the protected waters of Prince William Sound.
Utahtea
Apr 17th, 2014, 12:47 PM
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Yes I read the note on 26-glaciers' website. I also thought that maybe in PWS you will see more wildlife, even in bad weather, as they are easier to spot than among higher waves.
Seasickness is really bothering me too.
Also that we have to pre-book the trip months in advance. So you have to go on the tour, even if the weather is bad.
We will be down there on labor day weekend and can do the tour only on August 31. So I hope we are still lucky with the weather, - but nowadays you never know.
Seasickness is really bothering me too.
Also that we have to pre-book the trip months in advance. So you have to go on the tour, even if the weather is bad.
We will be down there on labor day weekend and can do the tour only on August 31. So I hope we are still lucky with the weather, - but nowadays you never know.
Apr 17th, 2014, 03:06 PM
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Seasickness hasn't really bothered me but I can't handle it when others are throwing up around me 
20 years ago we just went up on the day we wanted to do the tour and got on. I don't think I'd try that now! It was a beautiful day when we set out but the captain got a radio message that there was a storm coming....and they were right! Once we were back in the bay it was an easy ride again. We did see puffins, eagles, whales, otters and dolphins on that Seward tour.
Utahtea
20 years ago we just went up on the day we wanted to do the tour and got on. I don't think I'd try that now! It was a beautiful day when we set out but the captain got a radio message that there was a storm coming....and they were right! Once we were back in the bay it was an easy ride again. We did see puffins, eagles, whales, otters and dolphins on that Seward tour.
Utahtea
Apr 18th, 2014, 04:58 AM
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We did both cruises last summer on Major Marine. They offered 2 for 1 specials with the Toursaver coupons but unfortunately I don't think they offer that special any longer. We did book months in advance though because they only accepted a limited number of coupons. We loved both cruises and couldn't really pick one as a favorite.
We ended up having glorious weather for both cruises which does not always happen. I had packed gloves, hats, winter coats because we wanted to be out on the deck. We did pack our lunch both days and enjoyed eating lunch on the deck. There were good reviews of the lunch and dessert that was served.
The Kenai Fjords tour in Seward (7 1/2 hour) is fabulous. It cruises into Resurrection Bay--we saw lots of otters, a humpback whale and calf, fabulous scenery. I think you do need to plan on rough seas for a short distance as you leave the Bay. We did take seasickness medicine as a precaution. They actually sell it at the ticket counter, so I felt that was a sign. There were a few people who did get sick.
We continued into Aialik Bay, stopped at Holgate Glacier, saw it calving, stopped at Aialik Glacier and saw more calving. It is amazingly very cold near the glaciers with the wind coming right across the top of the glacier. I was glad for my hood.
On the ride back to Seward there is more amazing scenery, you pass and island filled with harbor seals, saw puffin, a pod of 7 humpback whales at a distance, birds, otters and porpoise.
The next week we took the Prince William Sound Cruise. There is no danger of seasickness on this cruise. On this trip we saw tons of glaciers, fabulous scenery.
The highlight is Surprise Glacier, where you stop and watch calving, seals on ice floes. A whole group of dall porpoise chased and played alongside the front of the boat and put on quite a show for a long way. The captain weaved the boat a bit to make waves for the porpoise to jump. They seemed to love that. We saw otters, eagles, gulls, the pink salmon fish farm, harbor seals, a rookery of gulls with newborn chicks.
We stayed up on the decks the whole day. You do get assigned a seat where you can leave your backpack, food etc. If you are eating lunch, you will be assigned a table.
We ended up having glorious weather for both cruises which does not always happen. I had packed gloves, hats, winter coats because we wanted to be out on the deck. We did pack our lunch both days and enjoyed eating lunch on the deck. There were good reviews of the lunch and dessert that was served.
The Kenai Fjords tour in Seward (7 1/2 hour) is fabulous. It cruises into Resurrection Bay--we saw lots of otters, a humpback whale and calf, fabulous scenery. I think you do need to plan on rough seas for a short distance as you leave the Bay. We did take seasickness medicine as a precaution. They actually sell it at the ticket counter, so I felt that was a sign. There were a few people who did get sick.
We continued into Aialik Bay, stopped at Holgate Glacier, saw it calving, stopped at Aialik Glacier and saw more calving. It is amazingly very cold near the glaciers with the wind coming right across the top of the glacier. I was glad for my hood.
On the ride back to Seward there is more amazing scenery, you pass and island filled with harbor seals, saw puffin, a pod of 7 humpback whales at a distance, birds, otters and porpoise.
The next week we took the Prince William Sound Cruise. There is no danger of seasickness on this cruise. On this trip we saw tons of glaciers, fabulous scenery.
The highlight is Surprise Glacier, where you stop and watch calving, seals on ice floes. A whole group of dall porpoise chased and played alongside the front of the boat and put on quite a show for a long way. The captain weaved the boat a bit to make waves for the porpoise to jump. They seemed to love that. We saw otters, eagles, gulls, the pink salmon fish farm, harbor seals, a rookery of gulls with newborn chicks.
We stayed up on the decks the whole day. You do get assigned a seat where you can leave your backpack, food etc. If you are eating lunch, you will be assigned a table.
Apr 22nd, 2014, 10:26 AM
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We've done a tour out of Seward twice, once with Kenai Fjords and once with Major Marine. Can't say one was better than the other. They both will talk to other boats about spotted wildlife and head that way--not a set route.
What I can say for sure is you want to take the longest one possible and get to Aialik.
What I can say for sure is you want to take the longest one possible and get to Aialik.
Apr 23rd, 2014, 04:20 PM
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We were awed by the scenery on both these cruises. We were very lucky to have postcard perfect weather for both, so I am sure that helped.
If you have any issues with seasickness, then you would probably prefer the Prince William Sound cruise. We loved staying in Girdwood at Hidden Creek B&B. It was a half hour drive to Whittier. There are also several nice hikes in Girdwood
If you have any issues with seasickness, then you would probably prefer the Prince William Sound cruise. We loved staying in Girdwood at Hidden Creek B&B. It was a half hour drive to Whittier. There are also several nice hikes in Girdwood
Apr 26th, 2014, 04:43 AM
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We would like to take the Kenai Fjords tour in Seward with 5 persons. Is is advisable to reserve the tour in advance (with the risk of having bad weather) or shall we see how the weather is and go on board? We will be staying in Seward a couple of days so we can decide on which day we go on the day cruise.
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